The Theology of Flannery OConnor - Annotated Bibliography Example

Annotated bibliography Cofer Jordan. The Theology of Flannery O’Connor: Biblical Recapitulations in the Fiction of Flannery O’Connor. Virginia: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. April 14th, 2006. Print. Retrieved from: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04202006-122716/unrestricted/ThesisFinalDraftJC.pdf.pdf Cofer states that O’Connor uses biblical texts in the book to express the plot and she has freedom to twist the excerpts to suit the story. In particular, she dramatizes the religious expressions in distinct times as well as social settings. It is stated that the concerns that she addresses in the anecdotes are similar to the issues that are in the biblical texts. For example, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is inclined to a ruler in Matthew chapter 19, Mark chapter 10 and Luke chapter 18. Through O’Connor’s essays and letters, the author draws a perspective in the article to echo the biblical reflections. Eder, Katharina. Flannery O’Connor "A Good Man Is Hard to Find": An Analysis. , 2009. Print. Eder provides a critical analysis of the story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” and focuses on her life as a representative of the Roman Catholic. Ideally, the author focuses on the period of the Second World War and cold war as some of the incentives that encouraged her to write the story. Nonetheless, the religious and historical contexts are used to support her storyline, and this emphasizes on the character of the individuals. Additionally, the religious background influences the relationship between the characters in the story. Gooch Brad. Flannery OConnor. New York: The New York Times. 2015. Retrieved from: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/flannery_oconnor/index.html Gooch provides a biography of O’Connor and cites that she taught her pet bantam chicken the unusual style to walk backwards, and this attracted the attention of many companies. Ideally, she was a celebrity by the time she wrote an essay in 1961 but she continued to author additional stories. Pertinently, it is observed that “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is a book that enhanced her image in the society as it was a finalist in the National book award in 1956. Kilcourse, George A. Flannery Oconnors Religious Imagination: A World with Everything Off Balance. New York [u.a.: Paulist Press, 2001. Print. Kilcourse states that O’Connor was a devout Christian who had deep faith in the Catholic Church. Thus, her career in writing was influenced by her belief and the values that she respected. For this reason, the sanctity of her writing was influenced by her critical examination on the religious views. Nonetheless, she incepts an imaginative and fictional view of the characters so that they can fit into the plot. Additionally, she seeks God’s grace in the situations to define the appropriateness of actions. Kirk, Connie A. Critical Companion to Flannery O’Connor. New York: Facts on File, 2008. Print. Kirk provides a critical analysis of the works of O’Connor in her life with particular perspectives in the story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” Ideally, the author provides critical viewpoints by highlighting the bibliography of the writer with critical reflection on her family position. Additionally, there is focus on her friends, social position and historical influences that made her to make the crucial decisions in life. Additionally, there is an explanation of literary terms as used by O’Connor in the writing. McCullough R. Scott. Flannery OConnor as Neighborhood Missionary: The Roman Catholic Didacticism of "A Good Man in Hard To Find" in the Heart of the Bible Belt. Knoxville: University of Tennessee. 12-1992. Retrieved from: http://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1092&context=utk_chanhonoproj McCullough states that the ostensible theme of the story revolves around eternal salvation, which is majorly influenced by her inclination to the church. According to her catholic beliefs, she is certain that man can only be saved by God’s grace. Importantly, mankind and nature may not intercede in the situation as they do not have the powers. The author states that she uses critical reflection from the religious books to assert her points. For this reason, the story does not compromise salvation since it is an important aspect of the Christian belief. Nash-Greenberg Mabel. Identifying Catholic Values in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find. Dec 13, 2010. Retrieved from: http://lebambam.tumblr.com/post/2304286767/redemption-of-the-grotesque-identifying-catholic The author states that O’Connor is devoted to the roman Catholism and she states that her life is based on the beliefs of the Christian religion. Ideally, Christ plays a critical role in life as He is the center of redemption. In fact, the evidence of her faith is strongly embedded in her stories including “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” For instance, grandmother is defined a character that is committed to the catholic faith and convinces her kinship to emulate her. Additionally, she is opposed to the misfits in the society as they are negative influences. National Endowment for the Humanities. Flannery OConnors "A Good Man is Hard to Find": Whos the Real Misfit? New York: National Endowment for the Humanities. Retrieved from: http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/flannery-oconnors-good-man-hard-find-whos-real-misfit In the story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” it is observed that O’Connor reflects on the most critical aspects of the society and they ought to be considered. Ideally, she reflects on the evils, acceptable standards, morality and immorality with a crucial perspective that inclined to her beliefs. She believes that the community needs to mirror on the Christian doctrines so that they can find guidance. Innately, she cites that misfits are within the society and they may have negative influence on the people. Thus, there is a need to explore the aspects and highlight their importance in upbringing of the society. O’Connor Flannery. ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find’. New York: The New York Times. February 4, 2007. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/travel/0204-1st-oconnor.html?_r=0 An excerpt from the New York Times describes grandmother’s intensions to visit her relations in east Tennessee although Bailey was not convinced. Imperatively, she states that a misfit is in the Florida neighborhood and it would be a risk to visit the area. Ideally, grandmother is convinced that her kin should not be associated with criminals as it is against her faith. In particular, she succeeds to influence them to visit their relatives as she initiates the trip. Flannery O’Connor. A Good Man Is Hard to Find. 1955. Print. Retrieved from: http://www.canyonisd.net/cms/lib/tx01000615/centricity/domain/1447/a_good_man_is_hard_to_find.pdf “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” remains one of the most influential short stories by Flannery O’Connor. It is understood that she is a devout Christian of the Roman Catholic faith, and she uses the religious teachings to deliver the plot. She states that God plays a pivotal role in the lives of ordinary people because this is inclines their lives to a better position. Importantly, she states that spiritual blindness is a hindrance to the success of the people as they may not see the truth. Thus, they should consider religious sanctity and avoid social evils. O’Connor Flannery. A Good Man Is Hard to Find. New York: Gale Cengage. Retrieved from: http://mirasenglisha1-09-11.wikispaces.com/file/view/A_Good_Man_Is_Hard_to_Find_eNotes%5B1%5D.pdf It is observed that “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is an influential story that focuses on religious inclination to form the plot. Ideally, the short story is presumed to be the beginning of a collection of subsequent anecdotes, and thus, it is an introduction. She is focused on a misfit in the society who kills the family in the final stages of the novel. However, focus is directed to the grandmother who is a devoted Christian and she believes that the grace of God is to prevail. Ironically, she finds that the misfit is one of her children although she did not want to be associated with the near-devil. Open Culture. Rare 1959 Audio: Flannery O’Connor Reads ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find’. New York: Open Culture. May 30th, 2012. Audio file. Retrieved from: http://www.openculture.com/2012/05/rare_1959_audio_flannery_oconnor_reads_a_good_man_is_hard_to_find.html It is expressed that O’Connor uses rare but realistic approaches to communicate to the audience. In particular, most of her stories are critical events that are irreversible although she objects that her stories are distorted in the 20th century. She confirms that the Christian faith is an important aspect of human life as it draws individuals closer to the lord. Thus, people that are inclined to religion will have a better reflection in life as they will be controlled by the Lord. Additionally, their spiritual eyes will be opened so that they can distinguish the acceptable practices from the intolerable deeds. Robillard, Douglas. The Critical Response to Flannery O’Connor. Westport (Conn.: Praeger, 2004. Print. A posthumous response states that O’Connor is amongst the most recognized writers in the American literature. Ideally, a she is acknowledged for the use of religious doctrines together with humor to define a plot, especially, in the story “a good man is hard to find.” The theological conversations are highlighted as the anecdote reflects on the major approaches that she has undertaken to ensure her work is a success. Importantly, her 47 pieces of volumes represent an author with diversity as she reflects on distinct issues in the society. Sparrow Stephen. Grace Versus the Glamour of Evil in A Good Man Is Hard To Find. Catholic education resource center. 2003. According to an interview that was availed by the jubilee magazine, it is noted that O’Conner stated that she is a staunch roman catholic that is inclined to the beliefs of the religion. For this reason, she uses the reflections of her belief to write the novels and stories that have gained attraction in the entire world. In particular, she states that death, judgment, heaven and hell are the important aspects to an individual. Thus, she uses violent death to show that a family that is filled with negativity has to face pain in the end. Imperatively, she uses grandmother to show commitment to religion while the misfit shows unacceptable people that are filled with evil. Votteler Thomas. Short story Criticism. Detroit: Gale Research Inc. 1990. Electronic source. Retrieved from: http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/lewiss/Oconnor.htm This is a critic that explains various perspectives that O’Connor uses in her short stories. For instance, Votteler states that she reflects on violence in her fictional stories, although she also highlights grotesque in the plot. Importantly, she focuses on a misfit in the society that is likened to the devil. To critic the story, the author states that there are numerous assumptions that may not be understood by the modern society. Additionally, she uses a reasonable perspective to highlight an unusual character. Importantly, it is sated that the heroine of the story is grandmother who uses her Christian inclination to influence the plot. Read More